What is FusionMaps?

FusionMaps (previously known as PowerMaps) is a collection of vector maps that can be used to show data related to geographical divisions. These maps are suitable for use in websites and applications. Each map is driven from XML using which you can provide data to it, configure the properties and interactions. Setting up a map for production barely takes a few minutes and doesn't involve any modification of source code. All you need to do is feed the data in XML file and you're ready to go. And to make things easier, we also have a visual GUI that can help you do the same.

FusionMaps shows data based on geographical entities and not on zip codes. For example, the US map is divided into it's respective states. You can show data for each state by referring to it's ID (pre-defined in FusionMaps). You cannot directly use ZIP code to highlight particular cities or states.

However, using the Markers feature, you can create your own custom points on the map and show them with relevant information.
 
Usage

The maps can be used for a variety of purposes like:

  • Statistical Data e.g., population distribution etc.
  • Business data e.g., "Regions by revenue", "Regions by Sales" etc.
  • Real-Estate plots
  • Electoral Results
  • Geographical Representations
  • Office Locations
  • Survey Results
Features
The maps support the following features:
a
 XML API
  Each map is exposed using an XML API. To use a map, all you need to do is plug the right .SWF File with XML data. No modification is required in source code.
   
a
 Advanced JavaScript/AJAX integration
  FusionMaps offers advanced options to integrate maps with AJAX applications or JavaScript modules. You can update maps on client side, invoke JavaScript functions as hotspot links, or make dynamic calls for XML data to server without involving any page refreshes.
   
a
 Visual GUI
  The visual GUI helps you configure your map properties, add data, create markers, hide/show markers and visually build the XML and HTML code for the map.
   
a
 Custom Markers on Map
  FusionMaps supports custom markers on the map. They can be effectively used to pin-point locations like cities, junctions, houses, malls, shops, offices etc. You can define any number of markers for each map and then opt to show just a few out of them.
   
a
 Supports Drill Down
  Each entity on the map acts as a hotspot, which can be used for drill down mechanism. You can open the links in same window, new window, frames, pop-ups etc.
   
a
 Dynamically resizable
 

All the maps can be resized dynamically to a constrained proportional size (relative to the original size).
   
a
 Can be exported as images/PDFs
 

The maps can be exported as images or PDFs at run-time - both at server-side, and at client-side.

   
a
 Custom Animations
 

You can define your own animation properties for the map and text
   
a
 Customizable Font properties
 

You can easily customize the cosmetic properties of the text on the map.
   
a
 Support for coloring individual entities of map based on a defined data color range
 

You can provide color range for the map, and the entities can automatically color themselves based on the data and color range provided.
   
a
 Legend for defined data color range
 

The map can show the defined color range in a legend.
   
a
 Option to provide colors for individual regions
 

You can also bypass the color range definition and directly provide a color for each entity on the map.
   
a
 2D/3D Looks
 

Using shadow and bevel effects, you can render 3D looks for the map.
   
a
 Tool tips and hover colors
 

The map supports tool tips and hover color effects.
 
Advantages of using FusionMaps
a
 No installation hassles
  To use FusionMaps, you do not have to install anything on your server. All you need to do is copy paste the SWF files (the core files of FusionMaps) to your server, just like you would do to any image files - and you're ready to go! So, even on those servers which do not allow installation of ActiveX or any other form of components, FusionMaps can run without any hassles.
   
a
 Easy to use
  FusionMaps makes the map creation process a painless experience for you. Since it uses XML as its data, all you need to do is convert your data into XML using a programming language - and that's all what is required to create interactive and animated maps.
   
a
 Runs on a variety of platforms
  Irrespective of what server side scripting language you're using, FusionMaps can be used to create maps in that. Since FusionMaps uses XML as the data interface, you can run it on any server and against any scripting language. Also, to view the maps, your users just need to have Adobe Flash Player 8, which is one of the most used browser plugins on the planet.
   
a
 Reduces load on your servers
 

In traditional image based mapping systems, the maps are generated as image at the server side. So, for each map that you need to serve to a user, you'll have to build complex images on the server and then stream it to the client. When the need of hour is high, this can be an expensive resource on the server, as image creation takes a lot of toll on the server.

FusionMaps brings you great relief - all the maps are rendered at client side using the widely installed Adobe Flash Platform. The server is just responsible for streaming the pre-built SWF files and your XML data files to the end viewers. From there on, Flash Player takes the onus of rendering the maps. Also, the map SWF Files can be cached so that you can just update the data, and not send map SWF files every time.
   
a Wide variey of maps
  FusionMaps offers a wide variety, which we will keep extending.
   
a Clear licensing policies
 

FusionMaps offers you a clear cut no-nonsense licensing model. We do NOT charge for per-testing server or per-production server. Once you buy a license of FusionMaps, you can host it on multiple servers, if all those servers are hosting the same website/application. We offer unlimited development servers, unlimited test servers and unlimited CPUs on a given server with each license of FusionMaps.

Moreover, if you're using multiple technologies for the same application - like say, ASP for a few modules and PHP for a few modules, you can use FusionMaps for both of them, without having to pay us anything additional. This saves you a lot on licensing cost and renders a generic look and feel to all the maps of your application.
   
a Easy AJAX integration
  FusionMaps offers advanced options to easily integrate maps with AJAX or JavaScript modules. For example, you can change the map's data at client-side itself without invoking any call to server. You can call JavaScript modules when user interacts with map's hot-spots etc.